Fast Casting is the Mesmerprimary attribute, which means that only characters who have chosen to be a primary Mesmer can put points into this attribute. While Fast Casting has a limited number of skills linked to it, the passive benefit it provides is more than enough by itself. Unlike the primary attributes of other professions (which have simple, linear progressions), the effects of Fast Casting on spells have an exponential progression.

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"Fast Casting decreases the activation time of your Spells and Signets. (No effect for non-Mesmer skills with an activation time less than 2 seconds.) In PvE, each rank of Fast Casting decreases the recharge time for your Mesmer Spells by 3%."

Determining ideal investment: Because of the progressive cost of attribute ranks and the effects of aftercast delay, players believe that the sweet spot for Fast Casting is 7–9 ranks. This allows mesmers to set two other attributes to 10 & 12 respectively. (Obviously, if a build includes several FC skills, it makes sense to invest more than 9 points.)

More spells more quickly: Fast Casting allows mesmers to cast more spells. All other things equal, a mesmer could cast four 1s spells (with FC=9) in 5 seconds whereas other professions would take 4.5 seconds to cast only three.

Recast spells more quickly: Faster recharge means that mesmers are able to recast hexes on enemies before the original hex expires.

Shutdowns: In order to interrupt and otherwise prevent opponents from using skills, the mesmer has to be quicker on the draw. FC helps mesmers apply pre-emptive hexes early enough and also allow mesmers to be available to interrupt skills presently activating.

Avoiding long activations: Some mesmer (and secondary profession) skills normally take too long to cast in PvE or PvP. Diversion and Backfire would normally take 3s to cast; with FC=9, they can be cast in just over 2s.

Currently there are only nine Fast Casting skills, more than half of which are elite. Most Fast Casting skills relate to the activation or recharge time of spells or signets. Fast Casting skills also include Symbols of Inspiration, a copying skill similar to Arcane Mimicry.

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